At Nature’s Path we’re all about making delicious, organic, plant-based foods – and we don’t just mean our cereal and granola. The recipe section on our website is teeming with irresistible food inspiration – all of it veggie, and much of it vegan.
Lately we’re finding more people are choosing vegan and vegetarian options – whether for health, environmental or animal rights reasons. We like to think that vegan desserts can be just as delicious and interesting (if not more so!) than regular ones; plus they’re friendly and inclusive for most diets. And you know what? That means everyone can have their cake – and eat it too!
Here are four of the hottest food trends to get you on the vegan dessert train.
1. Aquafaba Meringue
Tackling two major food issues in one go (food waste and the lack of vegan-friendly lemon meringue pie in the world) aquafaba is a truly magical ingredient. Next time you crank open a can of chickpeas, save the golden liquid and whip up a batch of meringue.
Try this recipe for Raspberry Eton Mess (shown at top). It’s perfect for meringue beginners because just like the name suggests – it’s allowed to look a mess! Also try this scrumptious Vegan Lemon Meringue Pie with Aquafaba.
2. Nice Cream
Much like its dairy-based counterpart, ‘nice cream’ offers cold, delicious decadence perfect on a hot day. Usually made with frozen bananas, frozen non-dairy milks like coconut cream, the flavour options for nice cream are endless and sure to delight dairy-dodging guests as well as traditional ice cream lovers.
Try this recipe for Peanut Butter Nice Cream Sandwiches!
3. Coconut Whipped Cream
With more and more people shunning dairy whether due to an allergy or overall health reasons, there’s an important gap that’s needed to be filled in the form of: non-dairy whipped cream. Coconut whipped cream is both a delicious and nutritious stand-in for those old aerosol cans.
Try this recipe for Banoffee Pie.
4. Superfood Boosters
With our growing understanding of what food does for (or against) our health, we’re making wiser choices for “functional” ingredients. Functional, or super foods, are making us even more creative in the kitchen.
For example, despite our understanding that a chocolate popsicle might spike our blood sugar, we still want (some might say ‘need’) a cool treat. With a little creativity, and by incorporating super foods like chia seeds and shredded coconut – you can have a delicious healthy treat that makes both tummy and taste buds happy.
Try this recipe for Frozen Banana Pops.